On a crisp autumn Sunday, St. Mary’s Church welcomed an afternoon of musical warmth and upbeat charm as jazz duo Peter Duncan and David Harvey brought their talents to the stage.

This performance reflected their whole lifetimes’ experiences immersed in jazz, blending piano and flute with light, toe-tapping tunes, brightening the day of the many who came to see them on October 20th.

The concert began with a classic from the Great American Songbook, "So in Love" by Eliane Elias, creating a welcoming and familiar feeling as they progressed through the set list.

Each song had their own unique twist, creating a smooth blend of jazz classics with fresh rhythms and melodies from their original compositions.

Among these, was "Jaco’s Grove," a nod to Harvey’s deep roots in jazz, having loved jazz from the age of eight, and “This and That,” a playful piece by Duncan, inspired by a nearby shop while he was composing. 

Duncan, a former member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and a past player in the Graham Collier band, has many years of musical expertise, having transitioned from trumpet and flugelhorn to his current passion: the piano.

In addition to leading his own bands, Harvey plays saxophone and flute, and has published two collections of jazz portraits, ‘The Look of Jazz’ and ‘Jumpin’ at the Junction’, which capture the essence of jazz through his lens, combining both his passions.

The duo emphasised how important jazz has been in their lives:

“Jazz is more than just music—it brings people together like how we are right now, " Duncan shared, "That’s why I fell in love with it.”

Harvey agreed, adding that performing with a long-time friend like Duncan is “the best way to share what we love with others.” 

St. Mary’s Church was the ideal setting for this amazing concert as the afternoon sunlight streamed through the intricate and colourful stained glass windows, reflecting the church's beauty, and complementing the warm, inviting tones of Duncan and Harvey’s music.

With the audience applauding, Duncan and Harvey left the crowd, well, jazzed!

Left with the melodies stuck in our heads, we were still humming long after the final note, appreciating jazz, and its timeless appeal.